Two swans, unhatched eggs found dead

The death of a pair of mute swans near the Mill Pond in Norwalk has at least one local resident searching for answers.

Trish Price of East Norwalk discovered the swans earlier this week near the north end of the Mill Pond. Each swan died of apparent head wounds. One swan was found dead about a foot away from its nest while the other was about 10 feet away. The nest, a large mound of dried marsh reeds, was littered with broken eggshells.

"I've been watching swans on this pond for 16 years. They have cygnets (baby swans) every year," Price said. "Everyone who lives here knows them."

Price, who got emotional while describing the scene to a neighbor on Friday, is hoping someone saw or heard something that will lead to clues about the death of the swans. There were no signs of a struggle such as loose feathers, and both swans had wounds to their heads.

"I was hoping it was natural causes, but there's no way," she said. "If someone was killing dogs or cats, there would be an uproar. A human did this. I can't believe someone would be capable of this."

Mute swans are large white birds, measuring about five feet long with a wingspan of six-and-a-half feet. They weigh more than 20 pounds. Mute swans were introduced to North America from Europe in the 1800s. Their population has grown considerably and they are often aggressive during the nesting season.

Maryland has efforts under way to control that state's mute swan population. There are currently no efforts under way in Connecticut. However, some conservation organizations -- such as the Connecticut Audubon Society -- want the state Department of Environmental Protection to control swan populations in certain areas. Many conservationists consider mute swans an invasive species that compromise coastal habitat and populations of native bird species.

Regardless of one's view of the mute swan, Price wonders why someone would go to such measures.

"I think people should know about this," Price said. "They should know things like this are going on."

Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling said the news of the dead swans was "troubling and disturbing." At this point, however, there's not much the police can do other than talk to neighbors to determine if they saw anything suspicious.

"There's probably no physical evidence we can look at," he said. "It seems vicious and there's no purpose to doing something like that."

Rilling urged anyone with information regarding the death of the swans to call (203) 854-3000.